Money Talks

I have heard the argument numerous times that money doesn't make any difference in educating a child. Those who argue this idea point to various districts in the country where money has been poured into schools with little change in achievement.

This idea about 'pouring money into schools' brings up all sorts of questions. Does the money go directly to student support? How much of it goes towards running the building? What portion pays for teacher salaries? Lots of questions to be sure. Don't get me wrong, whenever money from the local, state or federal authorities is directed to schools it ought to be used wisely.

But the people who contend that it is a 'waste' to put money into schools ought to rethink a few facts. Lets take a look at a couple of schools here in Illinois. A comparison of CPS schools and a couple of other top spending schools is most illustrative.

The number #2 school in spending per pupil, in Illinois, is Lake Forest CHSD 115. They spend $23,789 on each student. By the way, there are no percentages of the number of students attending #115 listed as 'low income.' Niles Twp. CHSD 219, the number #3 ranked in spending per pupil, spends $21,990 per student and has a 'low income' student population of 27%. On the other hand, the Chicago Public School system spends just $12,880 on each student and has a 'low income' rate of 87%.

Upon further examination, one finds that test scores, of various sorts, also reflects a wide gap between the highest spending schools and the CPS system. I know that money alone doesn't account for disparity between schools with regard to test scores. There are a whole host of other issues.

However, when students go without basic supplies, when children don't have the proper nutrition, when access to the best learning tools is not readily available and when teachers have to buy resources out of their own pockets then the students are going to suffer.

To the extent that we can, Schools Count Corp will continue to provide students, in areas of limited funding (high rates of 'low income'), with basic resources. Money does talk and money does make a difference when it comes to student learning.

Dick